'A Day in Sevenoaks'

The 34th AGM of the North West Kent Family History Society was held at the Sevenoaks Community Centre, Otford Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5DN, on Saturday 28th April 2012.

There was a variety of stalls and advisors for members and their guests to visit throughout the day including CAB Search (Family History Resources), second-hand bookstall, a display by Farningham & Eynsford Local History Society, also the Society bookstall and publications.

Programme

This was the programme for the day (some timings have been revised):

Time

Details

9.30am

Registration and Coffee

Members gathering for the AGM & Family History Day

10.00am

Welcome & notices etc.

10.15am

Talk by Dr Nick Barrett entitled 'The Media and Family History'.

Nick is best known to most of us for his work on the BBC Who Do You Think You Are series and his appearances at the WDYTYA family history event at Olympia. Nick is a medieval historian who worked at the Public Record Office - now the National Archives and is now one of the country’s leading family history researchers. He is Editor-in-Chief of Your Family History Magazine and is the author of various books on house and family history. Currently he is president of the Federation of Family History Societies and a trustee on the board of the Society of Genealogists.

The AGM was attended by David Cufley, President, and 131 members. The main items were as follows:

Minutes of the 33rd AGM

Approved without comment.

Matters Arising

None.

Accounts

Treasurer Isabel Leslie presented the accounts for 2011 and reported a surplus of £1110 for the year.

Report of the Committee

A detailed report had already been circulated to members with the March 2012 journal and can also be read here. There were no comments or questions from the floor.

Josephine Birchenough Bursary Award

Prizes were awarded in respect of articles that appeared in journal in 2011. The first prize of £75 was awarded to Phil Taylor for his article on Frederick Pigou (Sep 11). 2nd prizes of £25 were to go to Debra Dyson (Sep 11), William Rogers (Sep 11) and Ray Beckett (Dec 11); The following were 'commended' for their articles: Edwina Higgins, Lionel Cole, Louise Scott and Diane Smith. None of the article authors were present to receive their awards. A full report will appear in the journal(?).

Honorary Members

Ron Anthony was made an honorary member of the Society, and Certificates of Thanks were presented to Lorraine King, Peter Crawley, Rosemary & Roy Shiret, Maureen Wilkins (not present) and David Turner (not present).

President & Vice Presidents

Walter Eves informed the members that the current President David Cufley and Vice Presidents (Joan Field, Joyce Hoad and Susan Pittman) are confirmed for another year. These appointments are for four years.

Election of Society Committee

There were some changes to the Society Committee: Vice Chair is now vacant; Stella Baggaley was elected as Research Co-ordinator. Tony Codling was elected as an ordinary member.
For the current committee, see the Society Officers page.

Any Other Business

A question from the floor asked whether the membership fee should be raised, especially in view of the forthcoming large increase in postal costs. A discussion ensued and a vote taken on whether members would be prepared to pay more than £15. This was defeated. Another vote was taken on whether members should be invited to make a donation at the time of their membership renewal. This was accepted by a large majority.

Dr Kneif has a PhD in History from the University of Kent where she became interested in the Bevin Boys and chose them as the subject of her thesis. The Bevin Boys were young men, sometimes chosen at random by simple lottery, who were sent to work in the coalmines during the Second World War in lieu of their National Service. Dr Kneif has subsequently researched other wartime occupations including Munitions Workers and Land Girls. She is a well known speaker throughout the South East and also lectures about stately houses and seaside towns in Kent.

3.30pm

Short Break

3.40pm

Talk by Michael Gandy entitled 'Seeing it through their Eyes - Social History Customs.

Michael Gandy will be familiar to many of you as he is a frequent contributor to our Branch meetings and events. Michael’s talks are always informative and entertaining and we are pleased to welcome him back to our AGM this year to introduce us to social history customs and how these would have been viewed by our ancestors. Michael has a long association with the Society of Genealogists and is currently editor of the Genealogists’ Magazine, the journal of the Society of Genealogists. Michael has been researching his own family history for over forty years.